Known as America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin has tons to offer visitors who want to hike, camp, and fish. Fishing is especially popular in Wisconsin, which boasts countless lakes and rivers, plus access to Lake Michigan on the east and Lake Superior to the north. There are lots of good fishing spots to pick from. You can also fish all year with a valid state fishing license. Besides fishing, Wisconsin also offers a comfortable summer climate and lots of cultural attractions.
Fishing Spots in Wisconsin
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Wisconsin. You’ll find plenty of bass fishing in the state, along with a variety of other fish to catch.
Sturgeon Bay
Set right on the coast of Lake Michigan, Sturgeon Bay is a small town full of fishing opportunities looking to fish in Wisconsin. This great lake is open for fishing 365 days a year, and you can catch anything from rock bass to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, catfish, carp, bullheads, gobies, white perch, white bass, and sheepshead. Sturgeon Bay is also near Potawatomi State Park and is home to cultural attractions such as the Door County Historical Museum, the Door County Maritime Museum, and the Miller Art Museum.
Green Bay
Home of Wisconsin’s NFL team, the Green Bay Packers, you can come to Green Bay to catch a football game during the fall or take a tour of the stadium any time of the year. Fishing and camping are also very popular in Green Bay, and you can stay at one of many campgrounds, such as Baileys Grove Campground, which is located minutes from Lake Michigan and provides a fish cleaning station. Green Bay is also a moderately large city with a small-town feel, and visitors can shop at large chain retailers as well as small business stores.
Lake Winnebago
For those interested in ice fishing, Lake Winnebago in the winter months is the place to go. This lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Wisconsin, and it’s fairly shallow, so it freezes fast and stays frozen for many of the winter months. Here, you can fish for pike, bass, crappie, perch, and sturgeon, and several campgrounds can be found nearby.
High Cliff State Park is near the lake, and there are campgrounds at the state park where you can stay. The campground has electric hookups, showers, and a dump station.
Madeline Island
The Apostle Islands in Northern Wisconsin are full of breathtaking views, perfect for a camping vacation. Madeline Island is the largest of all, home to Big Bay State Park, where you can camp, fish, and hike during the summer months when the climate is warmest. Since it is located on Lake Superior, you may find some interesting fish such as lake trout, lake whitefish, brown trout, carp, chinook salmon, and coho salmon.
Milwaukee
For those who enjoy big cities as much as camping, Milwaukee is a great place to visit if you also want to fish. This city may be metropolitan in size, but it still offers nearby campgrounds and even fishing charters, like Milwaukee Offshore Fishing Charters. There’s always something to do in Milwaukee, such as attending the Summerfest music festival in the summer each year.
Where to Fish in Wisconsin
There are tons of good fishing spots in America’s Dairyland. Aside from the shores of the two Great Lakes, there are countless inland lakes and rivers that are stocked with fish by the state every spring. Perhaps some of the best places for fishing and camping in Wisconsin are in smaller towns where the hatcheries are located, like the Timber Coulee Fishery Area near Coon Valley, or scenic places, like the city of Chippewa Falls on the Chippewa River.
Camping and Fishing in Wisconsin
To get ready for a trip to fish Wisconsin’s many lakes and rivers, make sure you pack all the essentials you’ll need for both camping and fishing. As for camping supplies, check that you have enough clothing, food, blankets, soap, bug spray, sunscreen, towels, medication, umbrellas, maps, books, and even games, just to name the basics. For fishing, you’ll need to have fishing poles and rods, fishing line, bait, a tackle box, a bucket, a cooler, and a net, as well as personal items like snacks, jackets, boots, waders, water, and hand sanitizer.
Once you’re packed up to go, be sure to call campgrounds ahead of time to make reservations and ask about what sites are available for your type of RV. It’s also a good idea to ask if water and electricity will be available at the campgrounds you plan to visit. If not, add water bottles/jugs and plenty of batteries to your packing list. As for fishing, you can purchase a fishing license from a sales location once you are in the state, or you can plan ahead by ordering one online. Just remember that extra fees apply for out-of-state buyers.
And before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about fishing.
With an RV rental, your fishing trip will be a little more comfortable! After you’ve spent a long day fishing, grill up your catch right at your campsite. Then retire inside to enjoy all the comforts of home on board your RV. Plan your perfect fishing getaway with an RV rental from RVshare.
